via 247Sports, the only site to have scouting on a current high school sophomore

J.J. McCarthy Has Committed to Michigan Comment Count

Seth May 11th, 2019 at 6:46 PM

Rejoice ladies and lads, this is a pretty big one:

Michigan has secured the commitment of their top 2021 QB target, Nazareth Academy (Western Chicago)'s J.J. McCarthy. Message board people may recall Stephen R Kass passed along a Chicago Tribune article this week about the early five-star quarterback. McCarthy sounds like a guy who subscribes to the Church of Baugh:

“You never know what you will get out of him,” he says. “He doesn’t let the quarterbacks eat chicken because they are weak birds. I thought that was funny because I’m not a big fan of chicken. I like steak.”

And also like a guy from the mold they're using in Oklahoma lately:

McCarthy is an ideal spread quarterback.  “He could run any offense,” Racki says. “He could run the wishbone, honestly. He is that good of an athlete, that good speed-wise. He’s fast, athletic enough and tough enough because he’s a hockey player. Has a rocket arm and he can move.”

McCarthy is currently the #19 prospect and #2 pro-style QB in 247Sports extremely early 2021 ranking. Orion Sang noted that if McCarthy stays that high he'd be the top QB from the Midwest since...Drew Henson? Searchable data only go back to 2000 so probably Drew Henson.

Early scouting returns show a Henson-ish prospect who's too fast to risk edge rushing, and possessing the arm to chuck a 40-yard out on the run or cross-hash while getting lit up. There's also a young Gardner-ish tendency to start running around at the smallest provocation.

McCarthy will spend the next couple of years helping to build his class, and will probably be invited to all the right Elite 11s and campwhatnots. We'll have a more informative hello post sometime after that information, and McCarthy himself, have had a little more time to fill out.

Comments

RAH

May 11th, 2019 at 10:41 PM ^

Of course you're right.

Since your family has some Irish ancestry and none of you are over 6'0", we can safely conclude that no one with any Irish ancestry could possibly be bigger than 6'0". Especially someone that is only listed as 6'2" by all the services when still a sophomore in high school.

And I'm sure it's safe to conclusively deduce someone's full genetic make-up knowing nothing more than their last name. All DNA testing confirms that. 

In a very crowded field, that has to win the award for stupidest comment ever on this site. 

Mongo

May 12th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^

The point is he better be Drew Brees because there is no way he will be Cam Newton. 

Folks he is max 6ft flat and 170lbs with limited physical upside.  That is not D1 elite material in the raw. Hoping he can be the guy but not very confident.  

WolvinLA2

May 11th, 2019 at 11:30 PM ^

Are we basing this on anything other than his last name?  I mean the kid could be an eighth Irish for all we know (or less).  My kids have an extremely German last name but have more Guatemalan in them than German (in addition to Irish and Polish).  It's not like we did a 23-and-me on the kid. 

And even if we did - he's already 6'2", so it's not like we need him to grow 5 inches.  EVERY guy adds weight after their sophomore year, Irish or otherwise.  This is a ridiculous thread.

njvictor

May 11th, 2019 at 11:06 PM ^

This kid is gonna be good. Watching his film, the two most noticeable things for me (besides McCarthy being able to hit receivers perfectly in stride) are his ability to operate and step up in the pocket and also his ability to throw receivers open. You don't see those 2 things very often from high school QBs

Rocky Mountain…

May 12th, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^

Excellent news.

I suppose we all know who to thank for convincing the coaches to sign a 4-5 star prospect?  If it wasn’t for the hard-charging, never quit, damn the torpedoes spirit of our most faithful internet talent scout I’m sure we’d never of signed this kid. 

Dizzy

May 12th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^

Primary recruiter: Sherrone Moore

Secondary recruiter: Ben McDaniels 

The position coach hires over the past couple years are starting to pay bigger dividends. Recruiting is a multi year game.

Hopefully this kid sticks all the way through the process, even if Gattis is gone by the time he gets here.

scfanblue

May 13th, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^

Long time out before the kid signs but the major concern is his level of competition he is playing against. High school football in Illinois and (most of the Midwest) with the exceptions being Ohio and PARTS of Michigan and Penn is GOD AWFUL and amount to pee wee league and middle school ball in comparison to the prep ball in the south and California.